06-23-99 Minutes
CHANHASSEN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
June 23, 1999
Meeting called to order by Dotti Shay at 7:15 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Dotti Shay, Jack Atkins, Jo Mueller, Uli Sacchet
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Clay Smith, Andy Leith, Susan Markert
STAFF PRESENT:
Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist, Sharmin Al-Jaff, Senior
Planner
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes were approved.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING REVIEW:
Dotti said she received calls the day after the meeting
from council members saying the commission did a good job with its presentation. They
suggested she be involved in various projects, such as July 3 and Pollution Prevention Week, as
both a commission member and a Pillsbury representative. They thought the commission had an
aggressive work plan and the council plans on appointing a liaison to the commission.
LIGHTING ORDINANCE:
Jack gave an excellent presentation on dark sky issues and lighting
ordinances. He explained that sheilded lights not only reduce light pollution but also provide
more light below. Because of this, lights could have a lesser wattage and still provide the same
amount of light as an unshielded fixture. Unsheilded lights can be retrofitted and many cities are
doing that. There are four types of lights:
type luminosity cost/year (street light) comments
LPS (low pressure 35W 19.68 casts yellow light
sodium)
HPS (high pressure 70W 28.88 casts yellow light,
sodium) Chan. street lights
MH (metal hallide) 100W 37.76
MV (mercury vapor) 175W 67.28 typical farm yard light
Preferable spacing for lights in residential areas is 200’ staggered. In downtown areas about
every 50’. Recommended distances are relative to the height of the poles. Pollution caused by
used lights include the mercury from MV, which is bad because it’s so persistant, as well as the
MH lights. Sodium is hazardous as well but binds readily to become inert. The International
Dark Sky website has lots of information and articles: www.darksky.org
As for Environmental Commission goals, lighting issues are still exploratory and no action will be
taken for now.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Staff will develop objectives, the commission will review and organize
the action plan at the next meeting. The annual work plan will then be developed.
GENERAL:
?
Next meeting: WEDNESDAY, July 14, 7:00 P.M.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Prepared and Submitted by Jill Sinclair
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